Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 8769th Meeting, 15 Oct. 2020, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "the Situation in Mali"]

S/PRST/2020/10View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 226 The situation in Mali, published in 2020.

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 subjects

Mali Peace Agreements Peacebuilding Peacekeeping Operations

What’s in this document?

11 paragraphs

At the 8769th meeting of the Security Council, held on 15 October 2020, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “The situation in Mali”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council welcomes the establishment of the transitional arrangements in Mali, including the appointment of a Transitional president, vice-president, prime minister, and government, and the issuance of a Transition Charter. The Security Council also welcomes the release of all the officials detained, as per the request of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Security Council calls for the swift appointment of a National Transition Council.

“The Security Council commends the continued commitment and mediation efforts of ECOWAS over the past months in Mali, which demonstrates its leadership in the peaceful resolution of the political crises besetting the region. The Security Council takes note of the 5 October 2020 declaration by ECOWAS on the transitional arrangements and the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions. It also takes note of the lifting by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council of Mali’s suspension from African Union activities. It reaffirms its support for ECOWAS mediation efforts in Mali and encourages it to continue to accompany Mali in the implementation of the Transition Roadmap in the forthcoming months.

“The Security Council underlines that the transition be conducted in accordance with the Transitional Charter, leading to constitutional order and elections, within 18 months. It emphasizes that the elections must be inclusive, transparent, free, fair, credible, and conducted in a peaceful environment. It calls on all Malian stakeholders to prioritize building trust, engaging in dialogue and being willing to compromise, in order to conduct a civilian-led, consensual and inclusive transition. It calls for the dissolution of the Comité national pour le salut du peuple (CNSP) as called for by ECOWAS. It further calls on regional and international actors, particularly ECOWAS and the African Union to enhance their support to ensure Malian stakeholders build the foundations for a more stable and peaceful country. The Security Council recognizes, in this regard, the importance of capacity building, as well as political, institutional, electoral, administrative, and security sector reforms, as set-out in the Transition Charter and the Transition Roadmap, in order to address the expectations of the Malian people. The Security Council reiterates the importance of ensuring women’s full, equal, effective and meaningful participation in the political processes in Mali.

“The Security Council reiterates the strategic importance of the full, effective and inclusive implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali (“the Agreement”). It stresses that there is no viable alternative to the Agreement and calls for its implementation to resume without delay. It further calls on the Malian transitional authorities to take ownership of the Agreement and on the signatory armed groups to fulfill their commitment to its implementation. It urges them to take immediate and concrete action, in a spirit of genuine cooperation, to show tangible progress in fulfilling the priority measures referred to in paragraph 3 of resolution 2531 (2020).

“The Security Council calls on the Malian authorities to take expedited action to protect civilians, reduce intercommunal violence, and restore peaceful relations between communities in central Mali. In this regard, it urges these authorities to fulfil the priority measures referred to in paragraph 14 of resolution 2531 (2020), namely re-establishing State presence and State authority, and fighting against impunity for violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law. It also encourages these authorities, with the help of their partners to continue pursuing sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in central Mali, notably through development projects on education, infrastructures, and public health, with a special attention to youth. It calls on member states to consider additional contributions to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to provide the key assets, capabilities and troops needed for better protection of civilians.

“The Security Council welcomes the release, on 8 October, of Soumaïla Cissé and three other hostages.

“The Security Council reaffirms the importance of continuing the fight against terrorism, expresses its support for the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel, and recognizes the Malian Defense and Security Forces in this effort. The Security Council welcomes international and regional support to these forces, recognizes the bravery and the ultimate sacrifice their troops have made, and further recognizes the need for continuing support to the Malian Defense and Security Forces in their fight against terrorism.

“The Security Council also acknowledges that stabilizing the situation in Mali requires a fully integrated response, encompassing a simultaneous pursuit of progress on security, governance, development, reconciliation, accountability as well as protection and promotion of human rights.

“The Security Council reaffirms its strong support to MINUSMA and requests it to continue with its priority tasks of supporting the implementation of the Agreement, supporting stabilization and restoration of State authority in the Centre, protecting civilians, exercising good offices and reconciliation, promoting and protecting human rights, and contributing to the creation of a secure environment for the safe civilian-led delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“The Security Council also requests MINUSMA, within its mandate and existing resources, to support the political transition in Mali, particularly by exercising good offices, confidence-building and facilitation at the national and local levels, and by supporting, together with the United Nations country team, the holding of inclusive, free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, conducted in a peaceful environment, including through the provision of technical assistance and security arrangements, consistent with the provisions of the Agreement. It requests the Secretary General to include in its quarterly reports updates on how MINUSMA supports the political transition.”

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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